Scam Calls of the Divine: When Faith Is Used as a Weapon

Every day, we receive countless scam calls. Some claim to offer business opportunities, while others ask for sensitive bank information—account numbers, PINs, anything they can use to rob you. Fortunately, with technology and awareness, most of us can spot these scams and protect ourselves.

But how do you protect yourself from a more insidious kind of scam—one that doesn’t come through a phone line, but through the voice of someone claiming divine authority?

What if the scam is wrapped in the language of culture, heritage, and religion? What if someone convinces you that a divine power has asked you to act a certain way—not for your own good, but to serve their political agenda?

These are the pseudo calls of divinity—deceptive appeals in the name of faith, designed to manipulate rather than enlighten. These calls are not coming from a higher power. They are carefully crafted by those who seek control, often by exploiting the very foundations of belief and tradition.

Take, for example, the recent call by our Honourable Prime Minister urging citizens to vote in overwhelming numbers—“400 and above”—claiming it as a divine mission. Behind this rhetoric lies a dangerous suggestion: that rewriting or dismantling the Constitution is not just a political move, but a sacred duty.

Such narratives are not just misleading—they are deeply harmful. When seasoned politicians use the language of the divine, they tap into something deeply emotional and sacred. The result is often a psychological manipulation of the masses, where reason is clouded by devotion.

Thanks to the sacrifices of great leaders and visionaries, India emerged as a democratic nation—a place where governance was meant to be rooted in equality, justice, and secular ideals. But today, we see attempts to alter even the preamble of our Constitution, as if changing the question paper to match the answers politicians already want.

Let’s be clear: Divinity does not call for the manipulation of the people. Faith, at its core, is a personal and spiritual experience—not a political tool to rally votes or rewrite laws.

These pseudo-divine calls are a betrayal—not of any one group, but of the very idea of honest public discourse. They are frauds in the name of something sacred.

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Conclusion: Time to Listen Carefully

Just as we have learned to detect scam calls asking for our money, we must develop the awareness to identify scam calls that ask for our soul. The ones that hijack our beliefs to push political motives. The ones that cloak personal ambition in the name of divine instruction.

True divinity doesn’t demand votes. It inspires compassion, justice, and unity. It’s time we listen more carefully—and call out the impostors.

When the evil blogs....

We are more practiced to live in the world wherein we fear watched by the evil than being blessed by the God. Thus keep the cards close to our chest when it comes to raising our voice against the injustice.

This made me put a question to ChatGPT on how would world change when evil starts blogging and the results of ChatGPT was dracular. When evil becomes a savvy blogger it can impact the world in following ways.

1. Normalization of Harmful Ideas

Blogging could become a platform to cloak dangerous ideologies in friendly, relatable language:

• Framing hate as opinion: Extremist views might be presented as just “alternative perspectives.”

• Soft propaganda: Evil can disguise itself in lifestyle blogs, pseudo-philosophy, or self-help content.

Example: A blog that seems to promote "traditional values" could subtly advocate for regressive, discriminatory policies.

2 . Algorithmic Amplification

Modern platforms reward engagement, not ethics:

• Clickbait thrives: Controversial or divisive content spreads faster.

• Virality over virtue: The more outrageous the blog, the more attention it gets.

Effect: The most unethical voices might become the most influential.

3. Acceleration of Division

Blogs driven by evil motives could polarize societies even further:

• "Us vs. Them" narratives: Painting others as enemies in ongoing culture wars.

• Distrust in truth: Promoting conspiracy theories that erode trust in science, journalism, and democracy.

4. Weaponized Identity and Empathy

Evil could take on sympathetic or marginalized personas to build trust:

• False vulnerability: Pretending to be a victim to justify hate or manipulation.

• Cultural camouflage: Adopting local lingo or concerns to infiltrate different communities.
  

5. Manipulation of Public Opinion

If evil becomes a master storyteller, it can sway hearts and minds:

• Echo chambers: Readers may be pulled into closed communities reinforcing harmful beliefs.

• Emotional hooks: Anecdotal stories may be weaponized to justify cruelty or injustice.

• Authority building: Evil bloggers could gain followers who see them as truth-tellers against a corrupt system.

If evil becomes a savvy blogger:

• Tyrants could be rebranded as “protectors.”

• Violence might be reframed as “necessary justice.”

• Censorship could be sold as “safety.”

In short: The medium of blogging, once meant to democratize voice, becomes a double-edged sword when wielded by those with malicious intent.

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Playing the Right Game: Goals, Balls, and the Art of Success

 Life is a vast playground filled with countless goals — some shaped like basketball hoops, others like soccer nets or cricket stumps. Each goal requires a different ball, a different strategy, and a different skillset. The game of life is not just about having goals, but about choosing the right tools to pursue them.

Most people today chase a common goal: money. It’s a popular target, but not everyone is equipped with the right ball to score it. Life might hand you a brush and canvas when you’re trying to shoot baskets. Or a cricket bat when you need a keyboard. The mismatch leaves many frustrated — not because they lack talent, but because they’re playing the wrong game with the wrong tools.

In their eagerness to chase artificial goals set by society, people often try to reshape their lives to fit what the majority accepts — instead of pursuing the goals that naturally align with who they are.

Success isn’t just about chasing a goal. It’s about understanding what kind of game you’re meant to play. Look at the ball life has handed you — your skills, your passion, your circumstances — and choose the goal that matches it. Then play with focus, creativity, and intent.

That’s how you stop playing someone else’s game — and start winning your own.

Curious case of AIDS diagnosis in India

In India, AIDS has long carried a social stigma unlike any other disease—largely because it’s associated with sexuality in a traditionally conservative culture. For decades, it was wrongly believed to be the result of immoral behavior, particularly infidelity. But how did India first learn about HIV/AIDS? Here is an interesting excerpts from an article published in Hindustan times.

The answer lies in the pioneering work of Dr. Suniti Solomon, whose groundbreaking research in 1986 changed the country’s understanding of the disease forever.

Then a young doctor, Suniti was testing 100 sex workers as a part of a research project at the Madras Medical College (MMC).

Little did she known that a small, humble Madras laboratory’s preliminary research would precipitate a medical challenge on a national scale.

“She was shocked,” her son, Dr Sunil Solomon, recalled, 30 years on. “She had told her research student that she didn’t expect to find anything, that she was expecting negative results across the board.”

Instead, what Dr Suniti found was that six of the 100 workers tested positive for HIV/AIDS, an enormous discovery that brought the reality of the virus home to India.

But not initially.

“The government refused to believe the tests,” Dr Sunil said. “They could not believe that a country like India – deemed to be cultural superior to the West – could have the virus.”

It was only after the samples were sent to Washington and confirmed as positive that the government accepted Dr Suniti’s tests.

Facing enormous opposition, the doctor would go on to establish the YR Gaitonde Care Foundation in 1993 in Chennai (then Madras), and shape how the country educated itself about the disease and treated those who had it.

“Her discovery helped India start its fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Dr Sekhar, a senior doctor responsible for anti-retroviral treatments that help subdue the disease, at the General Government Hospital in Chennai.

After Dr Suniti died last year, Sunil, a doctor in his own right, took over the foundation.

An understanding of the virus, Dr Suniti deemed three decades ago, was critical in helping treat those who suffered from it.

Dr Suniti’s sheer dedication to her patients came, perhaps, from some of their tragic fates.

One of the first six people to be diagnosed was a 13-year-old girl who had been abducted and sold into the sex trade. The girl volunteered at the foundation the same year it started, dying a few months later.

But sympathy from the general public was in short supply.

“We were thrown into jail, beaten by police, and called things like impure,” said S Noori, president of the South Indian Positive network.

A former sex worker, Noori was among the first to be diagnosed with AIDS in India, and decided to volunteer to help raise awareness about HIV after meeting Dr Suniti in 1987.

“Today, people look at homosexuals and transgenders with the same contempt they had for us sex workers back then.”

“Men face an additional level of stigma because of the prejudice against homosexuality,” Dr Sunil agreed. “And it’s worrying because it affects their access to treatment.”

The main difference between then and now, according to Noori, is how open people with HIV are. “People are much more willing to come out and say I am positive,” she said, “And that’s great because it shows that people’s attitudes towards it are changing.”

It has been exactly 30 years since the first HIV patient was diagnosed in India. In this time, the country has made significant strides in medical treatment, thanks in large part to Dr Suniti’s gargantuan efforts.

“What was a death sentence 30 years ago is now a manageable problem,” said Dr Sunil. “One pill a day and you’re good to go.”

The next big frontier that HIV/AIDS research needs to conquer is finding a cure.

But of equal importance is continuing the fight that Dr Suniti Solomon began – the struggle against the stigma that AIDS patients face.

 

 

 

 

The sounds of the night: Insects create a nocturnal chorus

To my friends in city it will be rare for you to hear the sounds of the insects but those living near bushy forested areas you hear an interesting rhythm of sounds from insects that starts in the evening and goes till the midnight. I came across an insightful article from Reconnect With Nature about this very topic, and I’d love to share some highlights with you.

The term "singing insects" might make you think of Jiminy Cricket or another animated bug made famous on the big screen, but these crooning bugs are real, making themselves heard all across our area.

These singing insects are cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers and katydids, the males of which produce loud calls in their search for a female mate, according to the University of Florida. The sounds produced by these insects may just sound like a loud din to you, but each is unique to its species.

Katydids, grasshoppers and crickets are all closely related, belonging to the order Orthoptera, while cicadas belong to the order Homoptera. How these insects make their singing calls varies. The Orthoptera insects — the katydids, crickets and grasshoppers — typically produce sounds by rubbing one body part against another, which is called stridulation, according to Songs of Insects. 

Crickets rub together structures on their wings to produce their call, according to "Singing Insects of the Chicago Region" by Carl Strang. Male grasshoppers are able to produce sound by rubbing a hind leg against a forewing. Katydids make sound by rubbing their forewings together. 

Cicadas have sound organs called tymbals, which have a series of ribs that can buckle onto one another when the cicada flexes its muscles. The buckling creates a clicking noise, and the combined effect of these clicks is the buzzing sound cicadas make.

Even to the untrained ear, you may be able to tell the difference between some of these insects' calls. Crickets, for example, have more musical sounding calls because of their low frequency, Sounds of Insects reports. Katydids and grasshoppers have a more high-pitched call with varying frequencies. The songs of these insects often is not audible to people, particularly those with diminished ability to hear high-frequency sounds. 

Of our singing insects, cicadas are by far the loudest, notorious for their loud buzzing sound. The cicada call often sounds pulsating and typically builds up to a crescendo before abruptly ending, according to Sounds of Insects.  

When you hear these insects' songs can be telling as well. Cicadas generally call during daylight hours and at dusk, turning quiet by nightfall. Many katydids and crickets call at night, while we tend to see and hear grasshoppers during the day.

The next time you're outside in the evening—especially away from city lights—pause and listen. There’s a whole world of rhythm and romance unfolding in the trees and bushes around you. It's a gentle reminder that even the smallest creatures play a part in the great orchestra of nature.

Faking Co-existence (The pseudo Co-existence)

The rich pretends to co-exist with poor, the white pretends to co-exist with the black, majority pretends to co-exist with the minority. And result of this pseudo co-existence is that the next generation which couldn't figure out this pseudo co-existence is at cross roads watching all the tamasha happening in the society and unable to take sides.

The next generation believed that fissures within the society were minor and hence they could concentrate on bigger goals of humanity. But people who faked co-existence have come out with innovative method of electing radicals to achieve their purpose of getting rid of the co-existing partner.

The side which faked co-existence couldn't believe that Constitution would come in their way of realizing their devious dreams. Constitution armed those people who were affected by the pseudo co-existence.

When coming to India, ancient people mastered the art of pseudo co-existence i.e. to fake co-existence despite being divided into castes. And they became rattled when foreign forces shed light on this pseudo co-existence practiced for thousands of years.

Capitalism added to this pseudo co-existence, where in a company you can find people of different level working under a single roof but they were never single at heart. 

To achieve co-existence we need to defeat the pseudo co-existence.

The great Indian entrance exams

Though a college degree in India doesn't guarantee a successful career, students invest immense effort just to gain admission—primarily through highly competitive entrance exams.

Entrance exams are a major phenomenon in India. Depending on their field of interest, students prepare for specific exams tailored to certain colleges or professions. Many begin this preparation as early as higher secondary school.

From a business perspective, a whole ecosystem has evolved around these exams. Prominent coaching hubs like Kota offer intensive, high-tech training for IIT aspirants. I remember a friend who moved to Delhi to prepare for the IAS exams. Although the IAS isn’t an entrance exam per se, it highlights how far students are willing to go—and how much they’re willing to endure—to succeed in competitive assessments.

But there's a darker side to this coaching culture. The pressure can be overwhelming, often leading to exploitation. In one tragic instance, students lost their lives in an IAS coaching center in Delhi that flooded due to poor infrastructure—it was running illegally in a basement. Kota, despite its reputation for academic excellence, sees an alarming number of student suicides each year.

The issue isn’t isolated to coaching centers. In Tamil Nadu, several students died by suicide after failing to clear the NEET exam, triggering statewide protests. Many believed that NEET disproportionately favored out-of-state students and disrupted Tamil Nadu’s traditionally inclusive approach to medical admissions. This controversy even led to calls for NEET exemption in the state.

Personal dairy - the train journey

Indian Railways is the fourth-largest rail network in the world, covering over 65,000 kilometers. It’s also the largest employer in India, with more than 1.4 million employees across technical and non-technical roles.

My first encounter with Indian Railways was during a summer vacation trip to my late aunt’s house in Chennai. I remember the unique names of the trains from Bangalore—like the Lalbagh Express and Brindavan Express. The journey would take about five to six hours and always felt like an adventure.

Visiting my aunt was always special, and the train ride made it even more memorable. I still remember standing in long queues at the reservation counters to get a confirmed seat. Sometimes, our train would be scheduled early in the morning, so we’d pack our bags the night before and stay over at our uncle’s railway quarters near the Bangalore station—he worked with the railways, which felt like a privilege at the time.

One of my most unforgettable journeys was to Rameshwaram with my family. The highlight was crossing the iconic Pamban Bridge, which connects Rameshwaram to mainland Tamil Nadu. Another memorable trip was to Goa with my manager. The scenery near Castle Rock station was absolutely mesmerizing. I later took the same route with my friends from NCBS on a trip to the Dudhsagar Waterfalls—again, an experience to cherish.

My most recent train journey with my family was from Delhi to Katra, for a spiritual visit to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu. We traveled via a special railway tour package, and it remains one of the most memorable trips of all.

Although I’ve flown a few times, nothing compares to the charm of traveling by train in India. Despite occasional delays and discomforts, the experience is unmatched in its ability to connect people, places, and memories.

The Power Between the Lines

Poetry has always been a powerful tool for reformists—a way to connect with people and convey bold, transformative ideas. More than the words themselves, it is the meaning hidden between the lines that gives poetry its magic. That space—subtle, emotional, and often unspoken—can stir hearts, challenge authority, and inspire change.

When someone seeks to control art, the first thing they attempt is to dominate that space between the lines. This act is not only unethical—it is cowardly. But in today’s world, where shame is in short supply, such manipulation has become all too common, carried out under the guise of legitimacy.

By controlling the meaning inferred between the lines, they twist the context of the words—forcing them to say what they were never meant to say. This is manipulation of the highest order. It corrupts the original message and distorts the truth at its very core.

And when they cannot control a poet—when the meaning cannot be manipulated—they turn their efforts toward discrediting the poet instead. They attempt to stain the character of those whose voices remain unbent.

Rather than suffocating the space between the lines, it is the deep-rooted systems of corruption that must be pruned. It is not the message that must be silenced, but the decay that resists the truth in those messages.

Art of mainstreaming

Mainstreaming is more than a social trend—it's a powerful indicator of the direction in which a society is evolving. It sets the tone for what is considered acceptable, admirable, or aspirational, and in doing so, it shapes the mindset of the next generation. It provides them with the context in which they will strive for their own milestones.

When I was in school, the mainstream narrative emphasized love, compassion, and a strong moral foundation. These values were not accidental; they were a continuation of a powerful legacy. After World War II, and particularly in India, the mainstream was deeply rooted in the ideals of the freedom struggle and the pursuit of social justice.

This shift didn’t happen overnight. In many ways, it felt like divine intervention. Even individuals burdened with rigid casteist beliefs began to embrace the larger cause of national progress. The mainstreaming of equality, unity, and justice wasn’t merely political—it was moral and spiritual.

One of the most profound outcomes of this era was the birth of our beloved Constitution. It captured the spirit of the time—a collective yearning for fairness and dignity—and gave us a framework for building a just society. The mainstreaming of the freedom movement and the principles it stood for was not just a political achievement; it was an art form, carefully nurtured by visionary leaders and ordinary citizens alike.

But today, this precious space is under threat.

What we see now is a distorted form of mainstreaming—one polluted by vested interests and driven by constant anger, polarization, and performative nationalism. Hatred, once considered an aberration, is now being normalized as a way of life. This pseudo-mainstreaming is not organic; it is engineered to divide. It binds together groups who benefit from social fragmentation and who seek to reshape the mainstream to serve their own ends.

If this trend is left unchecked, it risks becoming the new normal. And when that happens, the values of justice, equality, and unity—so hard-won in the past—will become distant memories. We will have denied the next generation not only the fruits of progress but also the very tools they need to build a better future.

That is why we must protect and reclaim the mainstream space. It should remain a place of collective growth, where ideals like fairness, empathy, and cooperation thrive—not one where fear and division are celebrated.

The mainstream belongs to all of us. Let’s ensure it continues to reflect the best of who we are, and who we aspire to become.

200th post - Milestone

As mentioned in my previous post, I’m happy to share that my blog has now reached its 200th post—a milestone that has taken 13 years to achieve. What began as a hobby has evolved into a deeply meaningful activity that has helped me navigate some of life’s most challenging and confusing moments.

Over the years, my blog has explored a wide range of topics—political, scientific, spiritual, and everything in between. It has become a space where I could reflect on the events of the day and express my thoughts freely. In a world that’s often fast-moving and noisy, having a corner of the digital world to share my unique perspective feels like a true gift.

Back when traditional media ruled, sharing your views often meant writing letters to the editor—with no guarantee of being published. I tried that route myself, but my letters never made it to print. Blogging changed that. It gave me a platform where my voice could be heard, however modest the reach. On average, each post gets about 20 views—nothing viral, but deeply meaningful to me nonetheless.

One of the things I’ve come to believe is that many of the world’s problems arise when views are either not expressed or misunderstood. Writing helps refine the art of expression, and blogging, in particular, has sharpened my ability to communicate with thoughtfulness and clarity.

That said, blogging isn’t without its challenges. Sometimes, sharing opinions openly—especially on sensitive topics—can make others uncomfortable. And while disagreement is healthy, it can occasionally lead to friction with those who interpret things in ways I didn’t intend. But that’s the nature of open dialogue—and it’s a risk I accept in pursuit of honest conversation.

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🎁 A Small Thank-You for My Readers

To celebrate 200th blog post milestone, I want to offer a small token of appreciation to the 10 to 15 regular readers who make their presence felt in this blogging space. I’ve created a Google Form where you can share your thoughts about my blog—what you’ve liked, what resonated with you, or anything else you wish to say.

The first five responses will receive a free Kindle book redemption, purchased specially for this occasion.

👉 https://forms.gle/K7X34vL4FXXjrMk66
(If you're able to access the form, you're eligible for the Kindle gift.)

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Thank you once again for being a part of this journey. Whether you’ve read one post or many, your presence here means more than you know. Here’s to continuing the conversation—and many more posts to come.

Warm regards,
Deepak Kumar.B

Voice of the Silent

Long ago, women were denied the right to speak or express their opinions. Society not only silenced them but went a step further—it substituted their silence with the words it wanted them to say. Her quiet was not her own; it was filled with ideas imposed by others, shaped to fit a narrative of obedience and submission.

But women found a way to resist. They began a silent revolution—getting things done without words, turning silence into strength. Slowly, society began to realize that its strategy of speaking for women was no longer working. Her silence had evolved. It was no longer a symbol of submission, but a strategy of resilience.

In response, society doubled down. It vilified her silence, labeling her a witch, a curse, or a bad omen—especially when something went wrong. Even when she didn’t utter a word, she was blamed. Her silence became threatening simply because it was no longer controllable.

Today, we are witnessing a similar situation with Indian minorities. The majority, uneasy with their silence, projects onto it. They treat the quiet of minorities as suspicious, even dangerous. They want the minority voice to echo their own—to parrot their lines, beliefs, and loyalties.

But how can you control what someone prays for in silence? How can you police the thoughts that never become words?

The world cannot be fully controlled—least of all the quiet defiance of the oppressed. You can try to fill their silence with your own words, but the truth is, what remains unspoken often holds the greatest power. In silence, there is strength. And in that strength lies the potential to transform the world.

Government is a pattern

Have you ever considered how closely agriculture depends on stable weather patterns? Rainfall, temperature, and sunlight are not just environmental factors—they're essential ingredients for healthy crop growth. When these patterns become erratic—through delayed monsoons, sudden droughts, or extreme heat—agricultural productivity suffers, and farmers are left vulnerable.

In a similar way, governance operates on patterns. Just as farmers depend on weather, citizens depend on consistent, transparent policy making. Government policies shape the economic and social climate, and when these become unpredictable, the entire system can falter. Erratic decision-making can disrupt not only long-term planning but also public trust in institutions.

Recent examples from the current Indian government illustrate this trend. Sudden moves like demonetization, unannounced surgical strikes, and the decision of caste census have often been framed as bold or strategic. While actions like surgical strikes may have a legitimate place in matters of national security, using unpredictability as a political tool—particularly to unsettle the opposition—raises deeper concerns.

Governments are meant to provide stability, not suspense. Turning governance into a series of surprises may offer short-term political advantage, but it undermines democratic norms. More troubling is the portrayal of political opposition as enemies of the state. This is not only a distortion of democratic discourse but a dangerous erosion of constitutional values. When those in power equate dissent with disloyalty, they edge closer to authoritarianism and farther from the democratic ideals they claim to defend.

In agriculture, unpredictable weather can destroy crops. In governance, unpredictable policies and political polarization can weaken democracy. Both call for balance, foresight, and respect for the systems that sustain us.

India's water policy

The immediate outcome of recent Pahalgham attack has been India suspending Indus water treaty with Pakistan. So the point of importance is the water. While getting a first hand information on this development I happened to come across a good information on India's water policy.

In the context of India, the formulation of water policies presents a unique set of challenges. The Constitution allocates jurisdiction over water-related matters to State governments (Schedule VII, List II, Entry 17), while the center holds authority over inter-state rivers and water disputes. Given that river systems often traverse state boundaries, the center assumes a crucial role in ensuring sustainable management and balancing the developmental interests of different states. This may involve utilizing other constitutional entries, such as those about forests, to safeguard catchment areas. Numerous central and state laws address water management, including the state Panchayati Raj Act, which permits the delegation of responsibilities, such as minor irrigation, to Panchayats. Similarly, constitutional provisions allow the transfer of subjects, such as water supply and sanitation to urban local bodies, providing a decentralized approach to water governance (Bhatt & Bhatt 2017; Hutchings et al. 2017).

India's NWP considers water a fundamental human necessity. The management of water resources in India falls under the jurisdiction of individual states, with the central government's role restricted to inter-state water clashes. Thirteen states have formulated SWPs following the guidelines outlined in the NWP during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, i.e., the period from 2002 to 2012 (Shah 2013). Proactively, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh developed and implemented their first SWPs in 1994, 1994, and 1999, respectively. The second NWP was issued in 2002, and the centralized India-WRIS (Web-enabled Water Resources Information System) was established in 2008. It compiled valuable data, including a river basin Atlas for India, enabling the free exchange of information among government agencies and citizens. These issues included concerns about river health, conflicts, and paradoxes within the policy's framework.

The NWP of 2012 introduced various recommendations for the conservation, development, and enhanced management of water resources in India. Its core objective was to assess the existing scenario, formulate a comprehensive action plan from a unified national standpoint, and identify the water demand-supply disparity. An extraordinary milestone in this policy was the incorporation of the Public Trust Doctrine, marking its inaugural inclusion in the NWP documentation as a facet of water sector reform and effective governance.

According to the National Water Body Census, 2023, the country will have 2,424,540 water bodies. Among these, 59.5% (1,442,993) comprise ponds, 15.7% (381,805) are categorized as tanks, 12.1% (292,280) are identified as reservoirs, while the remaining 12.7% (307,462) include water conservation structures, check dams, percolation tanks, lakes, and other water bodies. Of the total enumerated water bodies, 97.1% (2,355,055) are in rural areas, and the remaining 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas. Approximately 78% are artificial water bodies, while 22% are naturally occurring.

Source: https://iwaponline.com/jwcc/article/16/2/493/106726/A-review-of-India-s-water-policy-and

An efficiently designed water dispersion network ensures a compact water supply in a well-organized city. A proper water conveyance framework is necessary to effectively distribute water from the centralized network to individual households (Radhakrishnan & Wu 2018). As an illustration, in India, specifically in Tamil Nadu, AI technology is being employed to manage water resources effectively in regions facing stress. The Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency has taken proactive steps by introducing an AI-driven, cost-effective monitoring system for rural drinking water supply. This initiative ensures fair and equitable water distribution across rural areas, addressing the challenges of water scarcity and ensuring access to safe drinking water for all. In Tiruchirappalli, a city situated in Tamil Nadu and positioned along the Kaveri River at the head of the Kaveri River delta, the Tiruchi Corporation was chosen by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to spearhead a pioneering project focused on detecting and minimizing losses in drinking water distribution using AI. Collaborating with the municipal administration department, MoHUA, and a French-based company, the civic body will develop an innovative, intelligent water resource management solution. Mohseni et al. (2021) utilized Bentley WATERGEMS software to analyze the water distribution system in Narangi village of Maharashtra, India. This software enabled them to assess the progression of water within each pipeline, monitor water levels in individual tanks, and assess the expansion of water flow velocity.

In summary, the global revolution in water management through the integration of AI and advanced sensor technologies is evident. India's efficient system, improved by AI models, optimizes water distribution, quality assessment, and infrastructure maintenance. Although challenges persist, such as heavy metal detection and IoT system efficiency, the potential of AI to tackle water scarcity and promote sustainability is promising, offering hope for a more water-secure future.

Forests and water are interlinked

The relationship between forests and water is very critical that needs to be accorded highest priority in the decision making process. The Water Policy of 2012 does not contain any reference to the links between availability of water and the forests, though it states that holistic and interdisciplinary approach to water related issues is missing’, it hardly mentions anything related to the linkages between forest cover and the water runoff or availability of the water in rivers and the watershed forests.

The Central as well as state governments have spent thousands of crores of rupees over the years towards implementation of the watershed programmes. Unfortunately, they are aimed at ‘exploiting’ the water resources through water harvesting structures rather than ‘husbanding’ water and to protect the watersheds of rivers.

In this context it is pertinent to re�ect on the traditional wisdom of people, who designated the watershed forests as ‘sacred groves’ leading to conservation of this fragile region. Compare this to the ongoing policy in which the small streams and tributaries in watersheds are being devastated to construct micro and mini hydel projects as well as run of the river schemes in both Himalayan and Western Ghats.

These practices indicate the sheer disconnect between the forest and water linkages among the policy makers as well as those who have narrow mindset while implementing these projects.

While recognising the need to conserve the forest resources, the government of India has evolved the Forest Policy in 1988 that states ‘the main aim is soil and water conservation for mitigating floods and droughts and for the retardation of siltatio...

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/forests-water-interlinked-2321693

While recognising the need to conserve the forest resources, the government of India has evolved the Forest Policy in 1988 that states ‘the main aim is soil and water conservation for mitigating floods and droughts and for the retardation of siltatio...

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/forests-water-interlinked-2321693

First blog

World of blogging is an enthralling experience wherein you are your own author of the content. It just started as a hobby for me to get acquainted to the idea of blogging wherein I started posting the reviews of the cinemas I watched and books I read but this habit helped to navigate through many emotions of life which otherwise I couldn't share even with my family and friends.

My first blog was now non-functional lifeishoney.blogspot.com, I don't remember what exactly I posted on that blog but I could understand the ABC of how to open a blog and post content for the audience. My hobby of posting a blog wasn't any popular in my circle but it served my purpose in unexpected ways.

It's almost 13 years since I started this blog and I am just four short of reaching 200 posts. I do maintain another blog wherein I post about movie reviews but I have restricted this blog just for current affairs. 

Blogging has helped me bridge the gap between my ideas and the providing a platform to that idea in reaching out to the digital world. I rarely get any comments for my blog posts but I am aware that my blog posts are closely watched. I usually get suggestion to monetise my blog but I want to keep it as a space wherein I convey my ideas for a greater cause.

I thank all those invisible audience who visit my blog regularly. I would post a special blog post on reaching the 200th post milestone. Thanks to one and all.

Why India is not the Tamilnadu and we need a strategy to deal with

Tamil Nadu has often stood as a challenge to the Sangh Parivar ecosystem. It remains one of the most self-sufficient and progressive states in the country, especially when compared to many states in the Hindi heartland. From its political autonomy to its emphasis on social justice, Tamil Nadu has carved a path rooted in rationalist thought and grassroots reform. Among the most influential figures of this movement was Periyar E. V. Ramasamy — a man whose ideas still echo through the state's social fabric.

But this modern, progressive Tamil Nadu wasn’t always this way.

There was a time when the state was deeply entangled in the web of caste. So rigid was the system that inter-caste relationships often resulted in brutal consequences, sometimes even in the form of honor killings. Caste identity dictated every aspect of life — from education to marriage to temple access.

Over time, however, Tamil Nadu began to transform. Social reform movements, many led by leaders genuinely committed to the ideals of equality and justice, began to challenge the old order. Through powerful anti-caste movements, affirmative action policies, and public awareness campaigns, the state started closing the gap between castes. The people of Tamil Nadu — not just its leaders — played a crucial role in this transformation. It takes deep cultural courage to let go of privilege, and large sections of society did just that, moving away from caste supremacy to a more inclusive vision of society.

No amount of modernism can flourish without the support and participation of local communities. And in Tamil Nadu, it was the people who made the conscious choice to move away from caste hierarchies, allowing future generations a chance to live with greater dignity and freedom. Their willingness to evolve deserves recognition.

Today, India as a whole finds itself at a similar crossroads — where Tamil Nadu once stood in its battle against caste, the country now stands in its battle against communalism. Yet, the Hindi heartland appears less willing to confront and renounce the ideas of religious supremacy, often justified under the umbrella of ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

What’s ironic is that the spiritual texts revered in Sanatan tradition — the Ramayana, the Mahabharata — are filled with discourses on renunciation and dharma. Both Lord Ram and Lord Krishna speak at length about self-sacrifice, letting go, and the greater good. And yet, many who identify with this tradition today struggle to renounce ideas of religious or cultural superiority — a contradiction that continues to hinder the creation of a truly modern, united India.

The question before us is this: Will the Hindi heartland show the same willingness that Tamil Nadu once did? Will it be ready to let go of supremacist notions and create a future that prioritizes harmony over hierarchy?

Only time will tell. But the hope is that, like Tamil Nadu, the rest of India too will rise to the occasion — not for the sake of the present alone, but for the generations to come.

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Ethernet based Webserver using ESP32 and W5500 modules

Have ever wondered how your routers get configured using a IP address on a web browser? The answer is simple, there is an embedded web server hosted on the router and when you connect to the computer using an Ethernet connection, the web server is accessed on the router using the IP address provided by the manufacturers for further configuration process.

I wanted to replicate this technology for evaluation purposes and using an IOT gateway development board, I could configure the ESP32 as Ethernet based web server attached to W5500 Ethernet module. I used a Arduino IDE to upload a sketch provided by a git hub repository maintained in the link https://github.com/Networking-for-Arduino/EthernetESP32/blob/master/examples/HelloServer/HelloServer.ino by https://forum.arduino.cc/u/juraj/summary

The code was uploaded after successful compilation but when connecting Ethernet module to my linux system, my linux was not allocating IP address to the Ethernet web server, a prerequisite for accessing the webserver through the web browser. There was some configuration problem in dhcp server installed in the linux system.

After consulting my friends working in the networking domain, I was suggested to use router which has an inbuilt dhcp server to allocate IP address to dhcp clients. As per suggestion from one of my friend I purchased TP link archer C6 router and connected IOT gateway to the same. Router allocated IP address to the Ethernet web server at ease and hence made web server accessible from the web browser of linux sytsem which was also connected to the router establishing a two terminal LAN.

Using this methodology you can connect your IOT gateway to local LAN for accessing the Sensor information dash board designed into Web server on getting a alert for a event notification to your mobile device by the gateway using cellular technology.

Ambedkar: The Forgotten Satyagrahi of Mahad

In a couple of days, we will be commemorating Ambedkar Jayanti—the birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian Constitution. This year’s celebration is particularly special, as it marks the first Jayanti after the symbolic moral reaffirmation of the Constitution during the highly anticipated 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

We know Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a visionary statesman, a brilliant lawmaker, a devout Buddhist, and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. But how many of us recognize him as a Satyagrahi?

Yes, Dr. Ambedkar too used non-violence as a means to pursue truth—much like Mahatma Gandhi. However, unlike Gandhi’s spiritual and political Satyagraha, Ambedkar’s Satyagraha was rooted in social justice. His fight was against the deeply entrenched caste system, and his cause was the dignity of the oppressed.

One of the most striking examples of this was the Mahad Satyagraha.

Mahad, located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra on the banks of the river Savitri, is also home to a significant Buddhist historical site. In August 1923, the Bombay Legislative Council passed a resolution stating that all citizens—regardless of caste—should have access to public utilities maintained by the government.

In January 1924, the Municipal Council of Mahad adopted this resolution. However, it failed to implement it due to resistance from caste Hindus.

In response, the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha organized a historic conference on March 19–20, 1927, in Mahad. Over a thousand people gathered. At the conclusion of the event, the attendees—led by Ambedkar—marched to the town’s main water tank and drank from it, asserting their right to public water.

This act wasn’t just about water. It was about dignity.

The Mahad Satyagraha was one of the most powerful struggles led by Ambedkar to claim equal social rights for the so-called "untouchables." Although Ambedkar didn’t personally believe in Satyagraha as a long-term solution, he saw it as a means to appeal to the moral conscience of the dominant castes.

He remarked:

“It is not that you can solve your problems by Satyagraha. This is only a request to the upper-class Hindu mind. This movement is going to prove whether the Hindu mind treats human beings like human beings or not. This Satyagraha is going to change the hearts of Hindus. The movement will decide whether Hindu mind regards humanity in the new age.”

Source: https://www.allaboutambedkaronline.com/post/an-overview-of-the-mahad-satyagraha

Ambedkar’s legacy as a Satyagrahi may be lesser known, but it is no less inspiring. On this Ambedkar Jayanti, let’s remember not only the constitutional giant he was—but also the courageous reformer who dared to challenge society’s deepest injustices.

 

Train your mind to look at the uniqueness

Sometimes in life we yearn to be like the one who we love, especially a kid who emulates his father in the early stages of life. Hence for every kid his father is the first hero in his life. But on the other hand a truly loving father would like to see his kid earn a unique name and position in this world.

Being unique doesn't mean you sway away from society, a garden has unique breed of flowers but still it is the unique collections of all such flowers makes a garden unique. You may be wondering what will you achieve after all those efforts of training your self to be unique? Its just about adding a unique flavor to the creation, hope I am clear about the significance of being unique.

To practice uniqueness you need to train your mind to see the uniqueness surrounding you in small aspects. But to be frank this world is trained to make an individual hate the uniqueness of the other individual for the reasons well known to the trainer. So if you want to train yourself to see the unique side of the world it is at your own risk.

But once you have trained your self to see the unique side of the world, you will be free from the herd mentality, a prerequisite to see how uniquely you can contribute to the world.

Can Tom enact laws for Jerry ?

We all know the famous Tom and Jerry show, and it is one the best cartoons which connects with that kid in us. It is ever struggle between Tom and Jerry each vying to put each other in trouble. There is logical solution to the problem either Tom leaves the home or the Jerry leaves home to end the never ending drama between them but life doesn't give room for the same. They are after each other's neck.

Imagine in a city where all Toms and Jerrys decide to go democratic. They hold elections, get elected and pass the laws. As Toms are in majority, they get a say in deciding what promulgates as the law. Now the situation is Tom wants to pass laws for the Jerry in the city. Ideally since Tom and Jerry have decided to go democratic and give up brow beating way of life, in one word we can say that they are on verge of being civilized and hence Jerrys shouldn't be having any problem in Toms passing laws for them. 

So is the state of democracy in the country wherein BJP wants to pass laws for minorities in the country. Ideally minorities shouldn't be having any problem with BJP passing laws for them as both have agreed to tread the path of democracy as means of living away from feudal fighting history which they share.

Now the problem is Tom while passing the law for Jerry tries to recall all the atrocities Jerry had orchestrated against it during pre-democratic period of time. And hence wants to teach a lesson for pre-democratic atrocities while framing the law for Jerry. But the Jerry knows it has edge when dealing in undemocratic environment but still clings onto the democratic process with a belief in the institutions of democracy which it can approach against the nefarious designs of the Tom.

Tom knows that it has no advantage once Jerry gives up the democratic way of life but still harasses the Jerry. It is a peculiar case of democracy wherein Tom wants to play spoil sport and hold Jerry responsible for the same.

 

Small lies

Lying is a strange phenomenon wherein we want to prove something which doesn't really has any standing when given a chance to prove itself confronted with the truth. Yet, there are lies under which we have to take shelter as the truth which the lies tries to hide can break a whole life who grew on the basis of the lie they believe.

I had a personal experience wherein fact checking certain lies can break relationship. I had a crush on a girl in my school days and expressed it to her via a social media platform. And she began sharing memes which were completely false and I as usual began fact checking her in those days. And the result was she stopped sharing them with me. I couldn't understand her behavior but when I recall the incident I could realize she wanted me to take part in her lie as a prerequisite to further the relationship which unfortunately I could not figure out. 

Lying is a skill which is like handling the double edged sword and the basic character of surviving a lie is that it doesn't get caught. But it is quite relative as lie requires a believer to gain traction. A lie becomes ineffective before two people, one who lies more than the one who he is being lied to and lie becomes ineffective before the one who transcends the lie with his truth.

A lie should be like a magic show which we resort to in order to expand our imagination limits despite knowing that it is a trick and that doesn't disturb the character of greater truth which we all have to depend upon when our basic belief system is challenged upon.

80/20 - Pareto principle

The 80/20 rule is also known as the Pareto principle or the law of the vital few, which basically means that in many events 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. The Pareto principle name came from the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who discovered the principle after realizing that approximately 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population, and he kept observing the same pattern in other different situations.

 The Pareto principle or 80/20 rule is the universal truth about the imbalance of inputs and outputs. You don’t need to create mathematical formulas, do some complex math, or understand statistics to leverage the 80/20 framework and start using it in your daily work. Let’s also keep in mind the 80% and 20% are just indicators. It’s a misconception that the numbers should always be around 80 and 20. They do not necessarily need to, these numbers are just a baseline.

The main point is to find the small things that give you the biggest results. The 80/20 rule is a guide that will help us understand typical distributions not matter what the numbers are. The point isn’t the ratio, it’s the imbalance, the inequality. The Pareto principle is not about working less and producing more, it’s more about working smarter and prioritizing the right things in order to deliver better results and value.

How to set goals based on the 80/20 Rule

1. Identify your key tasks based on your goals. What’s blocking you? Make a list of your constraints. What’s standing in the way of your priorities? Together with your team, come up with a plan to unblock. Take this opportunity to clarify the goals and visions with your cross-functional team. This is also an opportunity to collect feedback.
2. Clarify and unblock. More clarity will help you and your team have a better vision of your goals and what you need to do in order to achieve those goals. Removing impediments opens the door to more focus, keep in mind that we want to maximize the value of focusing on tasks that will give you more return.
3. Use the 80/20 framework. After you have evaluated your goals and tasks using the 80/20 framework, it’s so much easier to focus on the right things. Since you’ll be focusing on what will bring you more value, you’ll start to see the results faster. This can also be another incentive to continue to focus on what matters the most.
4. Work smarter. This should be a constant basis in our daily lives: evaluate, prioritize, focus, and continuously work. Don’t be discouraged, work smarter, and help your team to work towards their goals.

Source: https://medium.com/pm101/how-you-can-apply-the-80-20-rule-in-your-life-and-work-7d094a78e136

 

Beach tourism

India has a vast coastal line and hence houses some of the magnificent beaches in the world. Some of the famous beaches which are world renowned are situated in Andaman Nicobar islands , Kerala and Goa. When I say these beaches are world renowned so does the visit of foreign tourists to such beaches.

Some of prime destination beaches are possessed by the beach resorts and when I say beaches are possessed because according to Indian law beaches are public property, hence beaches cannot be owned by any private entity but can only be possessed by the entities.

But you know how far our people are smart enough to master hoodwinking the laws and hence have almost trick to occupy beaches and tuned them into premium spots as foreigners only visit. I had a personal experience when I visited the Kovalam beach in Kerala a few years before on an official tour to Kerala, was warned not to cross certain distance into the beach shore adjacent to resorts over there. 

Yes! Foreign tourist guest add to the exchequer of the country but giving them god status and demeaning the local population however ignorant they are about international standards makes the entire experience of the foreign guest artificial which makes entire purpose of their touring unwelcome. Experiencing the tourist place without experiencing the local population is like experiencing fire without heat.

India not the right place to establish your jungle raj

By latest India is in news for all the wrong reasons, it may be stock market crash, language row, electoral roll scam and so on. And most of the problem is related to taking spirit of the nation for granted. We have a prime minister who boasts of having a hold on the pulse of the nationhood.

But why is the brains which find pride in being cultured for centuries together just yearning for tasting the blood. These brains created doubts in crores of the people about glory of pre-independence social moments. Their lies, deceit and treachery stands defeated before the sacrifice of millions of satyagrahis.

India is definitely not the right place to establish the rule of chaos which houses spirits of devdoots. If some one is very much fond of tasting the blood of people who wish to tread the path of raj marg  they should relocate to that part of world which gives free hand to uncivilised and prove their prudence before imposing the same on the country.

Even when they shall conquer the entire mankind but India shall remain out of bounds if they tried to desecrate it with evil intentions.

Every penny saved is a penny earned

It was all blaring at the traffic signal, unable to find a way to give space for ambulance the vehicles were continuously honking. An ambulance is making noise because it is not reaching the place wherein it is supposed to be saving someone's life. Similar analogy holds good for a fire engine, a police convoy and so on.

Most of the world's problem is because of one simple reason i.e. right people are at wrong place and wrong people are at very wrong places. In simple terms people who are supposed to be behind bars are outside and people who are supposed to be outside are behind the bars.

Without going into much details on why it is so or what are its roots about, we can put our efforts in firefighting the situation. I mean to say that the fire has engulfed the world and we cannot waste our time in discussing what led to the fire and who gains from the same. But the need of moment is to devote our time in putting out the fire and in parallel save the individuals who are stuck in furnace. 

Having laxly response to the burning moment isn't going to help anyone as every effort matters and every moment counts in the eyes of the eternal. Every penny saved is a penny earned.

 

The two level playing fields

There is no two words when I say there are two Indias within India. One ruled by ideology backed by RSS cult and another based on time tested Constitutional ideology. So when I say two Indias, it includes two level playing fields. 

For BJP level playing field is determined and evaluated based on how it is going make the people flabbergasted in the name of fighting for cultural cause. For Congress it is all about keeping up its election promises of making arrangements for freebies and anti corruption initiatives and all those constitutional bounding which it owes for its existence.

Once gain I am going to take you to Government hospitals for a simple analogy where you can find one of the finest talent who were able to grasp positivity embodied within the system which  groomed them and in the same government hospital you can find dark characters who have gulped all the negative apprehensions about the system yet don't want to leave the system with a belief that one day they are going to hijack the system to their convenience.

Now you may wonder who is at loss because of this bipolarity understanding of the same system, it is of-course the patients who are left to grace of time. I mean the time they are either introduced to the one who has very optimistic idea about the system and hence gives a pleasant experience to the patient through his heartfelt service. There are another set of people who have to overcome all the negativity of the person who does everything else but to serve the people which is his primary task as a shareholder of the system.

So has become the fate of the people of the country who have to blame their fate/ time if at all they are left at the mercy of RSS cult and somehow will not be allowed to raise above the din orchestrated by the cult and halfheartedly give consent to all the ill plans to overtake the system. And we can only wish happy moments to the one who are able to connect to the constitutional side of India.

ESP32 GPIO control using Webserver technique

I was on my way to understand the operation of the IOT gateways which bridge the gap between IOT sensors and cloud which led me to buy a IOT development board from Vajruino.

The IOT gateway had a ESP32 wifi module, SIMCOM LTE module with a ethernet port. But one drawback about the gateway was that it was necessary to code the ESP32 in order to configure the IOT gateway. But nowadays IOT gateways are smart enough with a remote configuration option through web browser.

This made me to understand the basic concept of remote access of IOT gateway through web browser. A simple google search led me to an experiment wherein it is possible to control the ESP32 GPIO using webserver technique from a web browser over a local network.

It basically requires a node mcu esp32 board available over any robotic e-commerce website. A little bit of coding on the Arduino IDE can help you to control the onboard GPIO connected LED from a mobile web browser connected on a local network.

I am appending the Arduino code as below 

#include <WiFi.h>

#include <ESPAsyncWebServer.h>

// WiFi credentials

#define WIFI_SSID "Redmi"

#define WIFI_PASSWORD "19521952"

// LED pin

#define LED_PIN 2

// Web server object

AsyncWebServer server(80);

// LED state

int LED_state = LOW;

// Function to generate the HTML and CSS code for the web page

String getHTML() {

String html = "<!DOCTYPE HTML>";

html += "<html>";

html += "<head>";

html += "<style>";

html += "body {background-color: #F0F0F0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;}";

html += "h1 {color: #333333; text-align: center;}";

html += "button {width: 150px; height: 50px; font-size: 20px; margin: 10px;}";

html += "</style>";

html += "</head>";

html += "<body>";

html += "<h1>ESP32 Web Server</h1>";

html += "<p>LED state: <span style='color: red;'>";

if (LED_state == LOW) html += "OFF";

else html += "ON";

html += "</span></p>";

html += "<button onclick=\"window.location.href='/led/on'\">Turn ON</button>";

html += "<button onclick=\"window.location.href='/led/off'\">Turn OFF</button>";

html += "</body>";

html += "</html>";

return html;

}

// Function to connect to WiFi network

void connectWiFi() {

Serial.print("Connecting to WiFi...");

WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

delay(500);

Serial.print(".");

}

Serial.println();

Serial.println("WiFi connected");

Serial.println("IP address: ");

Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());

}

// Function to handle HTTP requests

void handleRequest(AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {

// Get the request path

String path = request->url();

// Check if the request is to turn the LED on

if (path == "/led/on") {

// Set the LED pin to HIGH

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);

// Update the LED state

LED_state = HIGH;

// Send a confirmation message

request->send(200, "text/plain", "LED turned on");

}

// Check if the request is to turn the LED off

else if (path == "/led/off") {

// Set the LED pin to LOW

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);

// Update the LED state

LED_state = LOW;

// Send a confirmation message

request->send(200, "text/plain", "LED turned off");

}

// Otherwise, send the web page

else {

// Get the HTML and CSS code

String html = getHTML();

// Send the web page

request->send(200, "text/html", html);

}

}

void setup() {

// Initialize the serial monitor

Serial.begin(115200);

// Initialize the LED pin

pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LED_state);

// Connect to WiFi network

connectWiFi();

// Start the web server

server.onNotFound(handleRequest);

server.begin();

}

void loop() {

// Nothing to do here

}

Source: https://www.instructables.com/Led-Control-With-ESP-Webserver/